Sleepless in Seattle

In three days, the A’s have transformed themselves in ways that do not bode well for the playoffs. Sound too harsh? It’s hard to like a team that loses three straight games for the first time in two months — at exactly the point it is inches from clinching the postseason berth.

The loss to the Mariners, a team the A’s have manhandled (15-1 before Monday) this year, was particularly disturbing. A 9-6 lead going into the ninth vanishes. The closer can’t close, and gives every indication that he won’t be able to do it against a much better team such as Detroit or Minnesota.